Feb 13, 2008, 7:19 GMT
New Delhi - Authorities in India's eastern West Bengal state on Wednesday lifted a ban on sale of poultry products imposed after an outbreak of bird flu.
The outbreak of H5N1 influenza in the state was under control, with no reports of fresh death of birds or human infection anywhere over the past few days, state Animal Resources Minister Anisur Rahman was quoted as saying by public All India Radio.
He said authorities decided to ease the February 5 ban on Tuesday. Initially imposed in 13 of the 19 affected districts, the ban was later extended to the whole state.
The ban would continue in parts of Murshidabad and Birbhum districts as a precautionary measure, Rahman added. The two districts were the worst affected by the influenza outbreak.
Rahman said 150,000 fowl had died of avian influenza in West Bengal, while 3.8 million birds - about 6 per cent of the total poultry in the state - had been culled in the effort to contain the disease. The culling and mopping operations were now complete, the minister said.
Poultry farming would not be allowed for another three months in designated areas, Rahman said. The West Bengal government has announced a compensation package for affected poultry farmers.
The latest outbreak in India was first reported on January 15 and at least four samples from dead birds tested positive for the highly pathogenic H5N1 virus.
The disease spread rapidly in densely populated West Bengal, where poultry farming is done largely in the backyards of homes. The World Health Organization (WHO) described it as the most serious outbreak in India so far.
India saw two previous outbreaks of bird flu, but has not yet reported any cases of human infection.
The virus is highly contagious among birds but is difficult to pass to humans. Health experts fear the virus could mutate into a form that could easily pass between humans, setting off a global pandemic that could kill millions.
The WHO has confirmed 226 human deaths in 12 countries in Asia and Africa up to Tuesday. Indonesia reported the highest number with 103 deaths.
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